Digital twin: an augmented reality based additive manufacturing system

Digital twin technology has been applied in various industries and has proved to be crucial in improving technological innovation and task performance. The technology allows manufacturers and developers to anticipate potential issues that may occur and, consequently, improve the system before deployment in real environments. The concept of understanding and learning a digital model of a product and the related manufacturing process in a smart, networked environment is crucial in saving time, capital investment, and improving efficiency in the manufacturing process. The use of digital twins can be noted in the use of advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms aimed at optimizing systems of products and recommending adjustments in advance to the design. The approach has been applied in varied systems of complexity, especially in the healthcare industry and manufacturing industry. In the manufacturing industry, major automobile manufacturers like Rolls Royce have applied digital twin technology in the production of jet engines, with the aim of improving fuel efficiency and reducing downtime for maintenance. Analysis of sensor data integrated in the jet engine during real use alongside the virtual model enables the manufacturer to forecast the life of the engine, while various tests can be executed using the virtual model instead of real operation to test the reliability of the engine.